Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2270 BCE · CBS 06185 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 053
In plain English
A short tally: Lugal-nidba'e, one; Nin-igara, one; E-sar, two. Then a field of three iku listed under Ati-[ḫi]; the U.ŠA plot belongs to Adda. The next line mentions the 'ka' of a dusu (perhaps a corvée-basket or pack-animal item, but the end is broken), and the final line records that this was set aside or left out of the account.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. [1]: Lugal-nidba'e, 2. 1: Nin-igara (the scribe wrote GA for gara₂), 3. 2: E-sar; 4. 3 iku of field: Ati-[ḫi]; 5. the U.ŠA (plot) is (that) of Adda; 6. the ka of the dusu-[...] 7. he has set (it) aside / left (it) out.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CBS 06235 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 056
In plain English
One eše of farmland, the plot known as the Ab-za[na] field, was sold. Its price came to one-third (of a unit) of silver. Ḫe[šer]da is named first — probably the seller or the chief party — and then the tablet lists further people, each counted as 'one': a name now lost, another lost, then Lugal-ša and Lugal-[...]. These are the witnesses or parties to the sale. The lines in between and the rest of the tablet are broken off.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 eše of field, 2. field in which (the field called) Ab-za-[na] is located (lit. 'the Ab-za-[na] field that is there'), 3. its purchase price: 4. 1/3 (shekel? / mina?) of silver. 5. Ḫe-[šer]-da 6. 1 [......] 7. [......] 8. 1 Lugal-ša(?) 9. 1 Lugal-[......]”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CBS 06203 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 066
In plain English
This is a list of what belongs to Lugal-KA-gina, the merchant, and confirms that it is all present and accounted for. The first two entries are too broken to read in full — one item of something, and about ten of something beginning 'en-'. Then: one barig (around 60 liters) of a commodity called ab-zana, three iku of field (about one hectare) at the place KA-kimdu, two house-plots, five male slaves and two female slaves. The closing line states that these goods, the property of the merchant, are on hand.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 [...] 2. 10(?) en-[...] 3. 1 barig of ab-zana(?) 4. 3 iku of field (at) KA-ki[mdu] 5. 2 e-šar (house-plots?) 6. 5 male [slaves] 7. 2 female [slaves] 8. property of Lugal-[KA]-gi[na], 9. the merch[ant]; 10. it is [on hand].”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CBS 06211 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 067
In plain English
Four iku of field, the field belonging to Abzana, is on hand. Three iku of field at Kimdua is on hand. Two house-plots, five male slaves and two female slaves — the holdings of Lugal-inimgina, the merchant — are present and accounted for. A few numbers at the start of lines are damaged, but the sense of the inventory is clear.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 4 iku [of field], 2. field of Ab-za[na], 3. is present (there). 4. 3 iku of field, 5. (at) Kimdua, 6. is present (there). 7. [2] e₂-šar (house-plots?), 8. 5 male slaves, 9. [2] female slaves — 10. the |U.ŠA| (holdings?) of Lugal-inimgina, 11. (this is) that of the merchant; 12. it is present/available.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CBS 06228 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 071
In plain English
This is a record of debts. Lugal-itida the soldier has taken on an obligation toward Lugal-itida the goldsmith for eleven shekels of silver, less a small fraction. He has also, in a second transaction, taken on an obligation for five lidga of barley. The witnesses to this are Lugal-ennu, Ur-Šulpa'e, and Ur-li (the rest of his name is lost). These men are the witnesses to the matter.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 11 shekels of silver less 1/[n (shekel)], 2. to Lugal-itida 3. the goldsmith, 4. Lugal-itida 5. the soldier 6. has placed (as an) obligation (lit. 'placed the neck'). 7. 5 lidga of barley, 8. for the second time, 9. he has placed (as an) obligation. 10. Lugal-ennu, 11. Ur-<Šul>pa'e, 12. Ur-li [...] 13. — they are its witnesses.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · UM 29-15-986 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 073
In plain English
This note concerns Inanna-ursag. The amounts outstanding are 8 shekels of silver, 2 lidga (large measures) of flour, and 2 sila (about 2 liters) of oil. Aba-Enlile and Lugal-nigzu are the ones who hold this claim against him.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. [Inanna-ur]sag(?): 2. its silver: 8 shekels; 3. its flour: 2 lidga; 4. its oil: 2 sila. 5. Aba-Enlile 6. (and) Lugal-nigzu 7. have (a claim) with him.”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CBS 06202 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 076
In plain English
Ten shekels of silver in the form of a gilum. One shekel of silver as an earring. One frog amulet worth a third of a shekel. One small silver emblem or pin, also a third of a shekel. Another ten shekels of silver. And a house plot of one sar. U.ŠA-pa-e made all of this over to Ama-nigtu as a nam-gu₂ — a designated share or obligation of some kind. That is the whole text; there are no witnesses or date.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 10 shekels of silver: a gilum (object); 2. 1 shekel of silver: an ear(-ring); 3. 1 frog(-amulet), (of) one-third (shekel); 4. 1 silver uri-emblem (pin?), (of) one-third (shekel); 5. 10 shekels of silver; 6. 1 house(-plot) of (1) sar. 7. U.ŠA-pa-e₃ 8. (for) Ama-nigtu 9. as a nam-gu₂ (assigned share) 10. made (them).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2270 BCE · CBS 06189 — University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
OSP 2, 077
In plain English
Outstanding balance: one-third of a mina of silver minus two shekels, and 133 lidga-measures of barley. After the claim was settled, this is what remains in the hands of Ur-Inanna, the cupbearer.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1/3 (mina) of silver less 2 shekels, 2. 133 lidga of barley — 3. the claim having been settled (lit. "the matter of the claim put straight") — 4. with Ur-Inanna 5. the cupbearer 6. it is what remains (outstanding).”
Source: engine:claude-fable-5-1 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-fable-5-1 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry